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If you're searching for an attorney in State College, Pennsylvania, chances are you're going through a tough situation. You may feel like no one is on your side, especially if you are considering filing bankruptcy, have been charged with a criminal offense, or are filing or appealing a Social Security Disability claim. During this difficult time, you need someone you can trust.

At The Mazza Law Group, P.C., we understand your fears and concerns. Our firm dates back 57 years, and our attorneys have the experience needed to help you. We will be by your side every step of the way, protecting your rights and working toward the best outcome for you. We take pride in considering ourselves your lawyers, your neighbors, and your friends.

Legal matters are often confusing and complicated, requiring experience and strategy to successfully resolve. With a highly respected and experienced attorney behind you, you can rest easy knowing that your case is in good hands. The experienced attorneys at The Mazza Law Group, P.C. in State College, Pennsylvania to protect your rights.

We stay up to date with changes in our legal system. If you have questions about how any recent changes in the law may affect you, contact us today.

Other firms might tell you to do something just to keep you in court longer or to get more money from you. The Mazza Law Group was honest and upfront. They genuinely had my best interest in heart and saved me money.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court has ruled that illegal drug use by a woman while pregnant could be considered child abuse after the child is born. If a child is born with injuries caused by the mother’s use of drugs, the baby could be defined as an abused child under the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL).

In the case known as In re L.B., IN re L.B. decision prenatal drug use.pdf the Superior Court overturned the ruling of the trial court about a Clinton County woman who tested positive for opiates, benzodiazepines and marijuana after she gave birth in 2017 to a child that suffered symptoms of withdrawal. The office of Children and Youth Services (CYS) appealed the lower court’s finding that actions committed by the mother prior to birth cannot be considered child abuse. CYS argued on appeal that the mother’s prenatal drug use was a “recent act or failure to act “that then “caused” or “created a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury.” According to the CPSL, bodily injury is the “impairment of physical condition or substantial pain.”

In the decision of a three-judge panel, the Superior Court found that the use of illegal drugs could cause bodily injury, as defined in the CPSL, and they remanded the case to the lower court for a new trial about whether abuse had occurred. The parties and the Court agreed that a fetus or ‘unborn’ child did not meet the definition of “child” under the CPSL, but the case was not about the definition of life of child. The Court’s focus was solely on the extent of harm to a child post-birth, if the bodily injury was caused by prenatal acts of the mother. If a child suffers “bodily injury,” then the Courts may find that they have been abused. 49 Pa. Code §48.51 – definition of child abuse.

The concurring opinion of one of the judges on the panel stated that a full Superior Court panel of more than three judges or the state Supreme Court should review the case. The judge expressed concern that the decision may ultimately interfere with pre-natal treatment for women addicted to drugs. The pregnant woman must act “knowingly, intentionally or recklessly” to be considered a perpetrator of child abuse. The judge stated that “we should not delude ourselves into thinking” that the decision could “intrude upon a woman’s private decision-making as what is best for herself and her child.”

One way for a foreign national to become a lawful permanent resident, and eventually a citizen, is through family-based immigration. US Citizens and lawful permanent residents may file a petition with USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) known as a “Petition for Alien Relative” (I-130) for certain close relatives. Those include spouse, parent, son […]

Anyone convicted of a felony is prohibited from firearms possession but did you know… In Pennsylvania, you can be prohibited from firearms possession if you have been convicted of any of the enumerated offenses found under Title 18, section 6105(b). Additionally, section 6105(c) outlines offenses that prohibit an individual from possessing a firearm, including driving […]

On January 6, 2018, the new Public Access Policy rule will go into effect in Pennsylvania to limit the personal information contained in court files accessible to the public. It is likely to have significant impact in family law cases like divorce and custody, where attorneys and individuals representing themselves will be required to exclude […]

Consider the following scenario: Jacques is a foreign national and is admitted to a university in the United States. He goes to the US consulate in his home country to apply for the visa. After all the paperwork is in order and he is deemed to be admissible to the US, he is granted a […]

On November 20, 2017, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be ending for approximately 59,000 nationals of Haiti who entered the US following the devastating effects of the 2010 earthquake on the island nation, and must either gain a different legal immigration status or leave by July […]

DACA Recipients and Employers. It has been over a month since the current administration announced that it would be ending President Obama’s executive order known as DACA- or deferred action for childhood arrivals. President Trump has urged Congress to take action with respect to the “dreamers”- those undocumented immigrants who came to the US as […]

A nurse anesthetist student at Bloomsburg University (Bloomsburg) was terminated from the Nurse Anesthetist Program (NAP) for refusing a drug test. The NAP was a partnership between Bloomsburg, a public university and member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, and Geisinger Medical Center (Geisinger), a private hospital. Bloomsburg provided classroom instruction for the […]

It’s back to school time. Does the school know you and your legal rights? If you are divorced or separated, you might be interested in some legal information and reminders to help make the beginning of the school year go smoothly. The information contained in this article is not legal advice, and you should consult […]

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